Grate



April 10, 1934. J. 5. THOMPSON GRATE! Filed June 20, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT [dz r; lam ATTORNEYS A ril 10, 1934. J. s. THOMPSON GRATE Filed June 20, 1950 2 SheetsSheet 2 XNVE 5 ATTORNEY) Patented Apr. 10, 1934 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE GRATE 7 James S. Thompson, New Rochelle, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Waugh Equipment Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Maine Application June 20, 1930, Serial No. 462,515

12 Claims. (Cl. 126- 180) This invention relates to grate-bars for use in service cause suflicient movement of the crosslocomotive fire boxes, boiler furnaces and for bars to shake fine ash through the grate in a other heavy duty purposes, and is concerned practically continuous operation. Occasionally a more particularly with a grate-bar which inthick fire may be carried or clinkers may not be eludes aplurality of fuel-supporting units mountpromptlyremoved, or the ash-pan may not be 601 ed on and readily detachable from a carrier bar kept clean, in which event, it sometimes happens but positively locked thereto in such manner that that in the shaking operation when the gratethey cannot be accidentally dislodged. The grate bars are tilted, one or more of the cross bars may bar of the invention may be made either in a be forced into a neutral position relative to the form for mounting in a grate frame for rocking carrier and be thrown clear of the carrier. movement or for use in a'traveling grate. The The present invention is accordingly directed former construction will be described in detail to the provision of an improved grate-bar which by way of example, but it is to be understood is made up of cross-bars and a carrier, positively that the utility of the invention is not confined locked together at all times under normal operat- 1 to that embodiment. ing conditions, and preferably having a limited In the co-pending application of Buckley, Sefreedom of relative angular movement so that rial No. 338,352,1iled February 3, 1929, which has the self-cleaning action above referred to is renow matured into Patent No. 1,884,557, issued tained. Thesecross-bars may be readily removed October 25, 1932, there is disclosed a grate-bar from the carrier when occasion arises, and the 20 of the type described, and the present bar resemfeature of removability is secured without com- 75, bles the Buckley bar in certain respects but is an plicating or weakening the structure in any way. improvement thereon in numerous features. The In the new grate ba t e locking u On each Buckley bar comprises a carrier bar having arms cross-bar are spaced a distance slightly less than at its ends from which trunnions extend, and the greatest width of the carrier and the arms 25 on this bar are mounted-a plurality of fuel-supat the ends of the Carrier are S i htly narrower porting units which extend transverse to the carthan the spa between the locking lugs- A180, rier and are commonly termed cross-bars. The the corners of the carrier web are cut away to a carrier is preferably formed with a horizontal slight extent, the cut-out being of less width web with a flange extending along its top and the lengthwise of the carrier than the thickness of 30 cross-bars have recesses of a shape similar to the the lower end of a cross-bar. There is accordsection of the carrier, so that they may be mountingly a point at the angle where the trunnion arm ed on the carrier and centered by the flange. connects with the web of the carrier, where the Each cross-bar is also provided with a pair of carrier is slightly narrower than the space belocking lugs which are spaced a distance slightly tween the locking lugs on a cross-bar. The cross- 35 greater than the greatest width of the carrier bar. by being slightly tilted can be slipped past v and normally lie below the under surface of the this narrow point to such a position that, when web thereof, when thecross-bar lies with its top the cross-bar is again straightened up, its lockhorizontal. ing lugs pass beneath the edges-of the web. The

In this grate-bar, the fuel-supporting units cross-bar may then be slid lengthwise of the car- 40 may be readily lifted free of the carrier by a rier and the operations repeated until the demovement at right angles thereto so that repair sired number of cross-bars are in place on the and replacement of units is a simple operation. carrier, whereupon the grate-bar is ready for When the grate bar is tilted a relative angular use. All of the cross-bars on the carrier are posimovement between the carrier and cross-bars octively locked thereto and only the end ones can 45 curs, and as a result, one or the other of the lockbe removed, but removal requires a succession of insl ss on each cross-bar passes hthe dge tilting and other movements which cannot 0c: of the carrier web and locks the cross-bar theree cur accidentally. y to, so that dislodgment of the cross-bars from the The new grate-bar is also constructed in such Ca is prevented. manner that in a grate made up of these bars,

00 The Buckley grate-bar is intended to be used increased dumpingopenings are provided by the with thin fires and when so used gives excellent movement of the cross-bars relative to the carresults. The freedom of movement of the crossriers which takes place in the shaking operation. bars relative to the carrier makes a grate formed For a better understanding of the invention,

of these bars practically self-cleaning in railreference may be had to the accompanying draw- 0 55 road use, since the shocks andjarrs incurred in ings, in which Fig. 1 is a sectional view through the new grate-bar on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a view of the new bar in side elevation showing the manner in which the cross-bars may be removed therefrom:

Fig. 3 is a plan view of one end of the carrier bar;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view through a pair of grate-bars showing the relation of the parts thereof during the shaking operation.

The new grate-bar comprises a carrier member which may have different forms. but preferably includes a web 10 having top surfaces 11, on which cross-bars 12 are mounted- These top surfaces are separated by a centering flange 13 which extends from end to end of the carrier. The supporting surfaces 11 incline downwardly away from the flange with which they merge smoothly and on the under surface of the web is a strengthing rib 14 of any suitable shape. Projecting downwardly from the carrier at a convenient point is a shaker arm 15.

At each end, the carrier is provided with an upstanding arm 16, and in the type of bar to be mounted in a grate frame, a trunnion 17 projects from the arm and is offset upwardly from the web 10. Each arm has a. narrow portion 18 adjacent the web 10 and. an enlarged top 19 adjacent the trunnion. The face of the arm adjacent the web is out off at an angle, as indicated at 20, and the end of the web has a cut-out 21 at g each side adjacent each arm 16. Also, the web has a lengthwise recess 21a in its under surface along each edge.

Mounted on the carrier bar is a plurality of fuel-supporting units or cross-bars, each of which comprises a plate 22 which has a flat top which lies horizontal when the grate-bar is in normal operating condition. The fuel-supporting units of the new bar may be of different constructions and that illustrated is of the type set forth and disclosed in the co-pending application of Buckley above-identified. Projecting from each face of the plate 22 near the top edge thereof are spaced lugs 23 which extend upwardly to the top of the cross-bar and terminate at their tops in projections 24 which extend above the top of the plate. Preferably the projection from the top of each lug is sub-divided by an air channel 25 which extends transverse to the plate and if desired other projections may be formed extending upwardly from the top of the plate itself adjacent the projections on each lug. For exam ple, there may be four minor projections in each group, two of which lie above a lug and two above the plate adjacent the lug, the projections of each group being separated by air channels. The lugs being spaced apart and projecting outwardly from the faces of the plate define air passages 26 for the upward flow of air from the ash pan to the fuel supported on the cross-bar, the air flowing horizontally through the channels so that air is supplied to the fuel with a wide and uniform distribution.

Formed in the lower edge of the plate is a recess, which is closely similar in shape to the section of the carrier bar. Preferably the recess is so formed that the cross-bar rests on the supporting surfaces 11 and lies free of the centering flange 13. At the lower end of the recess on each side thereof are locking means in the form of Iugs 27 and the distance between these locking lugs is slightly less than the greatest transverse dimension of the web of the carrier bar. Accordingly, the cross-bars cannot be accidentally dislodged from the carrier bar by a movement at right angles thereto. For the purpose of placing a cross-bar on the carrier, the cross-bar is placed in the tilted position assumed by the crossbar designated 28 in Figure 2. The cross-bar may then be slipped on the carrier since the narrow part 18 of the arm 16 is narrower than the spacing between the lugs 2'7 and after the cross-bar has been slipped down so that it contacts with the top of the flange, it may be tilted to upright position, the lugs 27 passing around and beneath the cut-out portions 21 of the web adjacent the arm 16. When so manipulated, the cross-bar takes the position of the unit designated 29, Fig. 2, and in order to complete the grate-bar, the cross-bar is moved lengthwise of the carrier and others mounted on the carrier by a repetition of the operations.

It will be observed that the cut-away portions of the carrier through which the lugs 2'7 pass in removing a fuel-supporting unit from, or placing the unit on the carrier bar, lie at one or both ends of the carrier bar adjacent the places where the trunnion arms join the ends of the main body of the carrier bar. When the carrier bar is provided with its full complement of cross-bars, the end cross-bars lie normally in contact with the trunnion arms and with their lugs 27 spaced from the cut-outs 21. As a consequence, the end cross-bars cannot be accidentally thrown clear of the carrier bar, because the removal of a cross-bar involves swinging it on an axis at right angles to the carrier bar and such swinging movement is prevented by the adjacent cross-bars. Each cross-bar, therefore, rests on a portion of the web of the carrier bar between the cut-outs 21, and that part of the carrier bar may be considered as the zone of support outside of or beyond which the cut-outs are located.

I am aware that in certain grate bars with removable fuel-supporting units, it' has been proposed to mount the units on a carrier with a positive lock, and in some of these grate bars, it has been the practice to cut away portions of the cross-bar within the zone of support to permit mounting the cross-bars on the carrier. With that construction, it will be evident that it is possible for a cross-bar near the cut-out to move into it and thus assume a position in which it can be thrown free upon vigorous shaking of the grate bar, unless wedges or other means are employed to prevent. Accordingly, when the cut-outs in the carrier are within the zone of support, accidental loss of a cross-bar may take place fairly readily or else can only be prevented by special locking devices, but when the cut-outs lie outside or beyond the zone of support, as in the bar of the present invention, the possibilities of accidental loss of a cross-bar are reduced to a minimum and no additional locking means are required.

The lugs 23 on each cross-bar are of increasing width from bottom to top and the pair of lugs at the middle of the cross-bar are connected, as indicated at 30, to provide an increased thickness of metal at this point where the cross-bar is narrowest in a direction from top to bottom. The faces of the arm 16 are cut back, as indicated at 20 and have a slope similar to the slope of the adjacent surface of a cross-bar. Each crossbar is also provided with pairs of spacing lugs 31 which project outwardly from selected lugs on its opposite faces.

In the normal condition of the grate-bar, the cross-bars lie slightly spaced lengthwise of the carrier and since the cut-out portions 21 at the corners of the web are of a smaller dimension in a direction lengthwise of the carrier than the thickness of a plate 22, it will be apparent that the end cross-bars cannot slip off the carrier accidentally but can only be dislodged by the tilting operation previously described. The distance between the arms at the ends of the carrier is a multiple of the space along the web occupied by each cross-bar plus a small additional distance and thus provides a suificient amount of play in the group of cross-bars on the carrier so that all of the cross-bars can be moved toward one end of the carrier and space is thus afforded to permit the tilting of the end cross-bar and its removal. In ordinary operation, the cross-bars distribute themselves along the carrier and there is not sufficient space afforded for the tilting of the end cross-bar to the extent necessary for its removal. Accordingly, in normal operation, the cross-bars are positively locked to the carrier and cannot be thrown free during the dumping of the grate. When the cross-bar is to be removed for any reason, the workman shoves all of the cross-bars toward one end of the carrier and then removes the end cross-bars successively from the other end of the carrier.

While the cross-bars are positively locked to the carrier as described, the shape of the recess in each cross-bar is such that a considerable degrce of angular movement of each cross-bar relative to the carrier is permitted. The recess is so designed that this relative angular movement provides increased dumping openings when the grate-bars are rocked.

In Fig. 5, there is shown two grate-bars of the invention in tilted condition. For this purpose, the shaker rod 32 connecting the shaker arms 15 is moved endwise in the usual manner. The cross-bars 120. shown in dotted lines have the relative positions which they would assume if they were locked rigidly to their respective carrier bars. The shape of the recesses in each cross-bar, however, is such as to permit a limited freedom of movement or the cross-bars on their carriers, and when the grate-bars are swung to the position shown in Fig; 5, the weight of the fuel thereon causes each cross-bar to assume the full line position designated 1212. In this position, it will'be observed that each cross-bar is moved angularly and away from its supporting surfaces on the web of the carrier. .As a consequence, the locking lug Z'Za of each crossbar has moved up so as to enter the recess 21a in the downward edge of the web, while the other locking lug 27b has moved free of the edge of the web and has passed beyond it. The cross-bar binds against one side of the flange 13 at the point 33 and this engagement of the cross oa-r with the flange at the point 33 and with the downward edge of the web of the carrier prevents the cross-bar from being thrown clear of the carrier. By varying the shape of the recess in each cross-bar and by varying the shape of the carrier, it is possible to vary the range of relative angular movement of the crossbars and carrier. Ordinarily this angular move ment will vary between 10 and 20, although a greater or less are may be provided, if desired.

Several advantageous results are obtained by the construction of the grate-bars in this manner, the principal one being that shaking and dumping of the grate are much facilitated. By

reference to Fig. 5, it will be apparent that if the cross bars were rigidly secured to the carrier bars, then on rocking of the grate bars, a space would be provided between adjacent grate bars for the dumping of the'ash, this space having a width equal to the distance between the point 34 on one cross bar and the point 35 on the cross bar of the adjacent grate bar. Points 34 and 35 are the points of the cross bars of the two grate bars which would closest together if the cross bars were rigidly mounted and held against movement relative to the carrier bars. However, in the present grate-bar, the cross-bars have a limited degree of free angular movement relative to the carriers and when this movement occurs in the dumping of the grate, the space between adjacent grate bars the passage of fuel is increased in width. The space now has a width equal to the distance between point 36 on the cross-bars of one grate-bar and the point 37 which is the nearest point on the cross-bars of the adjacent grate-bar. As a consequence of this increased dumping space, the passage of ash from the fuel bed to the ash pan is greatly facilitated.

The freedom of movement of the cross-bars relative to the carriers also facilitates the occasional shaking operations performed by the fireman. With the ordinary grate, the initial movement or the shaker handle by the fireman causes a movement of all of the grate-bars but with the new grate, the initial movement of the shaker handle merely causes a slight movement of the carrier cars, since the cross-bars tend to remain in their normal positions by reason of the weight oi the fuel thereon. The fireman may, therefore, grasp the shaker handle and give it a vigorous movement, during which the cross-bars remain stationary. The rocking of the carriers, howev r, shortly results in the carriers binding with the cross-bars so that the carriers and cross-bars are loclred together, but since the carriers are in movement at the time that this binding occurs, the result is that the cross-barszmay receive a severe impact which tends to loosen the fuel bed and jar fine ash loose. In actual practice with the new grate-bar, it has been found that the jarring of the cross-bars by a slight rocking of the carriers in opposite directions is suiiicient to keep the fuel bed clean and as a consequence, a thorough rocking of the grate is not required except at wide intervals. When a thorough dumping is necessary and the grate-bars are tilted to a position such as that indicated in Fig. 5, the cross-bars on each carrier swing avvay'from the top thereof and when the grate-bars are moved in the opposite direction, there is a point in this movement at which all of the cross-bars on each carrier are restored to their normal position in contact with both supporting surfaces 11. This return of the crossbars to teir normal positions is due largely to the action'of gravity and it assists the fireman in operating the; grate since the impact of the cross-bars returning to normal position gives momentum to the carriers which are at that time bein moved to a. position opposite to the one shown in Fig. 5.

In actual locomotive operation with the new grate liars, particuluarly when the cross-bars are provided with the fuel-supporting projections illustrated, it has been found that the fuel is burned to a fine ash. and the shocks and jars transmitted to the grate in ordinary travel cause slight movements of the cross-bars which are sufficient to shakev the ash down into the ash pan. The grate is, therefore, to a large extent self-cleaning and ordinarily the only additional shaking that is required is a slight tilting of the carriers which subjects the cross-bars to repeated impacts without producing any substantial tilting movement thereof. It is only on infrequent occasions that the bars have to be tilted to the extent shown in Fig. 5 and when this occurs, it is a relatively easy operation by reason of the momentum that can be given the carriers because of their loose connection with the crossbars.

What I claim:

1. A grate bar which comprises a carrier comprising approximately horizontal upper surfaces for supporting cross-bars and a centering flange along its top between said surfaces, arms at the ends of the carrier extending upward therefrom, and a plurality of cross-bars mounted on the carrier and having a limited freedom of angular movement relative thereto, said cross-bars being positively locked to the carrier against displacement from the carrier at an angle to the axis thereof said carrier having a substantially uniform overall width throughout the length if its supporting surfaces, except for a portion of reduced width adjacent at least one of said arms.

2. A grate-bar which comprises a carrier having upwardly extending arms at its ends provided with trunnions and a plurality of cross-bars mounted on said carrier and freely movable lengthwise thereof, each cross-bar having a recess through which said carrier extends, and said cross-bars having a limited freedom of angular movement relative to the carrier and having spaced parts positively preventing the displacement of the cross-bars from the carrier by movement at an angle to the axis thereof, said carrier having cut-away portions adjacent at least one arm, the width of the carrier in the said cutaway portions being less than the spacing between said parts, said portions being of less size lengthwise of the carrier than the thickness of said parts and said arm being of less width than the spacing of said parts.

3. A grate-bar which comprises a carrier having upstanding arms at its ends provided with trunnions, and a plurality of cross-bars mounted on the carrier and having a limited freedom of angular movement relative thereto, each crossbar having spaced parts normally underlying a portion of said carrier and preventing displacement of said cross-bar by movement at an angle to the axis of said carrier, said parts being spaced more widely than the width of one of said arms at one place.

A. A grate bar which comprises a carrier having upstanding arms at its ends and trunnions projecting from said arms, and a plurality of cross-bars mounted on the carrier between said arms and having a limited freedom of angular movement relative to the carrier, each cross-bar having spaced locking lugs normally underlying a portion of said carrier at either side of the axis thereof and preventing displacement of said cross-bar from said carrier by movement at an angle to the axis of the carrier, said lugs being farther apart than the width of one of said arms at one place.

5. A grate bar which comprises a carrier having a horizontal web with a lengthwise centering flange at the top thereof and upstanding arms at the ends of the Web provided with trunnions, and a plurality of cross-bars mounted on the carrier to rest on top of said web and straddle said flange, each cross-bar having an opening of a shape approximating the section of the carrier, through which opening the carrier extends, said opening being in part defined by spaced parts underlying the carrier at opposite sides of the axis thereof and below said web and preventing displacement of said cross-bar from the carrier by a movement at an angle to the axis of the carrier, said web having a substantially uniform overall width from end to end except for a portion of reduced overall width at at least one end, the width of said portion being less than the distance between said spaced parts on a cross-bar.

6. A grate-bar which comprises a carrier having spaced supporting surfaces at its top, a centering flange extending upward between said surfaces, and upstanding arms at its ends provided with trunnions and a plurality of crossbars, each resting on said surfaces and having a recess for reception of said centering flange without contacting with the latter, each crossbar having a limited freedom. of angular movement relative to said carrier and having spaced portions underlying a portion of said carrier on either side of the axis thereof and preventing displacement of said cross-bar from said carrier by movement at an angle to the axis thereof, the overall width of said surfaces being substantially uniform from end to end of the carrier and greater than the distance between said portions of a cross-bar except for a portion at at least one end of said surfaces of less overall Width than the distance between said portions.

7. A grate bar which comprises a carrier having upstanding arms at its ends provided with trunnions, and a plurality of cross-bars mounted on said carrier, each cross-bar being freely slidable lengthwise thereof and having a limited freedom of angular movement relative thereto, each cross-bar having spaced parts underlying a portion of said carrier on either side of the axis thereof and preventing displacement of said cross-bar by movement at an angle to the axis of the carrier, said portion of the carrier and one arm, at the junction of the carrier and said arm, having a width less than the spacing of said parts.

8. A grate bar which comprises a carrier having upstanding arms at its ends, and a plurality of cross-bars mounted thereon, each cross-bar having a limited freedom of angular movement relative to said carrier and having spaced parts underlying a portion of said carrier on either side of the axis thereof and preventing displacement of said cross-bar by a movement at an angle to the axis of the carrier, the width of said arms being less than the spacing of said parts and said carrier having cut-outs formed in said portion adjacent at least one arm.

9. A grate bar which comprises a carrier having upstanding arms at its ends, and a plurality of cross-bars mounted thereon, each cross-bar havinga limited freedom of angular movement relative to said carrier and having spaced parts underlying the edges of said carrier and preventing displacement of said cross-bar from the carrier by movement at an angle to the axis of the latter, the edges of said carrier being cut away at at least one end thereof and said arms being narrower than the spacing of said parts.

10. A grate bar which comprises a carrier having arms at its ends and trunnions projecting from said arms, and a plurality of cross-bars mounted on said carrier, each cross-bar having a limited freedom of angular movement relative to said carrier and having spaced parts underlying the lateral edges of the carrier and preventing displacement of the cross-bar from the carrier, at least one of said arms having a width less than the spacing of said parts and said carrier having portions cut-away in its lateral edges adjacent said arm.

11. A grate-bar which comprises a carrier having upwardly extending arms at its ends, each arm being provided with a trunnion, and a plurality of cross-bars mounted on the carrier and having a limited freedom of angular movement relative to the carrier, each cross-bar having parts lying at opposite sides of the axis of the carrier and movable alternately toward the carrier as the cross-bar and carrier move relatively in opposite angular directions, said parts underlying a portion of the carrier and said carrier having recesses adjacent at least one arm for passage of said parts in removal of a cross-bar, said arm having a portion adjacent said recesses of less width than the spacing between said parts.

12. A grate bar which comprises a carrier having upstanding arms at its ends, and a group of cross bars mounted on said carrier, each cross bar having spaced parts underlying portions of said carrier, said carrier having a greater width across said portions than the spacing of said parts except adjacent at least one of said arms where said portions are provided with cut-outs, said cut-outs being of insufiicient size to permit passage of said parts and said arm being of less width than the spacing of said parts whereby said cross bar may be removed only by movement at such an angle to the carrier that the said parts move partly through said cut-outs and partly along along opposite sides of said arm.

' JAMES S. THOMPSON. 

